Where'd You Get Those?

New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987

Published by Testify BooksEssay by Bobbito Garcia.

Lavishly illustrated and remarkably comprehensive, Where'd You Get Those?, is an insider's account that traces New York City sneaker culture back to its earliest days. Describing how a small and dedicated group of sneaker consumers in the 1970s and early 80s proved instrumental in establishing current corporate giants like Nike and Adidas, sneaker aficionado Bobbito Garcia writes with exactitude and affection. While chronicling the rise of sneakers through the lean years of the 60s, the bulk of the book examines nearly 400 sneakers released between the golden years of 1970-1987. Information-packed entries for each model include all of the color combinations available, nicknames of particular models, any relevant athlete endorsement, and (often hilarious) running commentary and stories from a rogues' gallery of fanatics who weigh in on the pros and cons of each sneaker. Via ancillary lifestyle chapters such as "Arts and Crafts," (which details the elaborate process of customizing sneakers ) and "The Sock Hop" (which introduces the unfortunates who had their shoes stolen off their feet, and the sneakers junkies who took them), Where'd You Get Those? examines sneaker culture from every angle. It's all here: everything you ever wanted to know about the production, distribution, and consumption of sneakers during the seminal years of sneaker culture in New York--the city that set the stage for the worldwide dominance of today's sneaker industry.

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Where'd You Get Those?New York City's Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987Essay by Bobbito Garcia.

Lavishly illustrated and remarkably comprehensive, Where'd You Get Those?, is an insider's account that traces New York City sneaker culture back to its earliest days. Describing how a small and dedicated group of sneaker consumers in the 1970s and early 80s proved instrumental in establishing current corporate giants like Nike and Adidas, sneaker aficionado Bobbito Garcia writes with exactitude and affection. While chronicling the rise of sneakers through the lean years of the 60s, the bulk of the book examines nearly 400 sneakers released between the golden years of 1970-1987. Information-packed entries for each model include all of the color combinations available, nicknames of particular models, any relevant athlete endorsement, and (often hilarious) running commentary and stories from a rogues' gallery of fanatics who weigh in on the pros and cons of each sneaker. Via ancillary lifestyle chapters such as "Arts and Crafts," (which details the elaborate process of customizing sneakers ) and "The Sock Hop" (which introduces the unfortunates who had their shoes stolen off their feet, and the sneakers junkies who took them), Where'd You Get Those? examines sneaker culture from every angle. It's all here: everything you ever wanted to know about the production, distribution, and consumption of sneakers during the seminal years of sneaker culture in New York--the city that set the stage for the worldwide dominance of today's sneaker industry.